Islamabad - Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani
Thursday announced that nearly 2 million people displaced by the
military operation against the Taliban in the north-western region
could start returning next week.
'The displaced people will start going back from July 13 with
honour. The special support group will finalize the strategy from
today and will make a procedure for their return, security and other
arrangements,' Gilani told reporters in Islamabad.
However, the prime minister explained the military operation in
Swat would not stop completely. 'There are some areas which need more
military attention but the military action will be restricted to
these areas.'
Thousands of military and paramilitary troops launched a major
offensive against Taliban militants in late April in north-western
scenic valley of Swat and three neighbouring when they used a peace
deal to expand their influence.
According to the United Nations, the army assault displaced more
than 1.9 million people.
Around 85 per cent of these homeless are living with relatives or
in rented houses across the country. The rest are staying in refugee
camps and are taken care of by the Pakistani government, the UN
agencies and non-government agencies.
The troops regained control of much of the area from the Taliban
after eight weeks of intense fighting, eliminating over 1,700 rebels.
Some 150 soldiers died and more than 400 were injured in the clashes.
Unknown number of surviving Taliban, including their local leader
Maulana Fazlullah, have fled to the mountains and are expected to
continue a low-scale resistance.
'The way occasional terrorist actions take place in the other
parts of the country, Swat is also a part of Pakistan, and some
terrorist activities will also continue to occur there,' Gilani said,
adding that the an army cantonment will be built there to ensure
security in the area.
The Swat operation enjoys vast public support and raised hope in
Washington that Pakistan could effectively handle the problem of
extremism and terrorism.
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